Convertible body for motor-vehicles.



B. THOMPSON.

1 CONVERTIBLE BODY FOR MOTOR VEHICLE3.

APPLIGATION FILED MAY 16, 1914.

1,131,875, Patented Mar.16,1 915.

2 SHEETS-QHNEETL WM E.L.FHOMPSON @AQW- B-.. L. THOMPSON. I GQNVERTIBLE BODY FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILBDMAY 16,1914. 1,1 31, 75, Patented Mar.'16, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Ema/whoa E.L THOMPSON ED srATns PATENT onnion.

EDWARDL. THOMI PS ON, OF GiLENNS FERRY, IDAHO- CONVFRTIBLE BODY FORMOTOR-VEHICLES:

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 16, 1915:

Application .filed May 16, 1915. Serial No.-839,098.

' To all whom-it may concern:

' Be it lmown'that I, EDWARD L. THOMPSON,

av citizen of vthe United States, residing at GlennsFerr-y, in the county of Elmore and State of ldaho, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Convertible Bodies. for MotQ1-Vehicles,0f which the folvehicles, the main object of the invention being the provision of a convertible body for motor vehicles'whereby the same may be readily convertedintoa full sleeping compartment or may 'bS-COIIVBEtGd into a part touring and a part sleeping ,body as the case maybe.

Another objeotkofthe resent invention .is thegpro'vision of a device ofthe'above character which can be applied to any make of motor vehicle and is-so arranged as not to change the neat appearance. of the ,vehicle in any manner whatever.

Another objectof he present mventio'nis the provision of a device of the above character which will possess advantages in points of efliciency and durability, 1s inexpensive to manufacture and, at the same time, is

simple in construction and operation.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter referred to and more particularly pointed out in the specification and claims.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view of a vehicle body constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is asimilar view illustrating the tonneau thereof as converted into a sleeping compartment.- Fig. 3 is a similar View illustrating the entire body as converted into a sleeping compartment. Fig. 4 is a bottom plan viewof' one of the supporting members.

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of one of the pivotedbar members; and Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the other ba member. 1

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 indicates the body of a motor vehicle.

which is provided with the usual rear seat 2 and the front seat 3., In the construction of the seats it will be noted that the front side 4 of the rear'seat 2 i'shingedkto the-forward: edges of ,the seat, 5 Shown at ,5 and 1s adaptedto be swung outwardlyand .Joe arranged in a horizontal position and directly inthetsame plane as the Jseat13 form ing a level surface. Hingedlysecured to the underslde ofthe front-portion 'of the back seat, are the supporting legs'fi which are securely held in .place by ,means' ofahe hinges 7 v When-the front portion rearranged-in ts raised position, as shown in'Fig. 2,.the legs 6 are moved .to .a vertical position so that .their lower ends rest upon .the bottom of-the vehicle body to support the front .pqr-

tion Lin an upright position. :Seoured to the forward edge of .the .n emherle, is a-stqp 8 which, when the member ,4 is ,in its-raised position, projects out beyondthe edge there of, the purpose of which-will be hereinafter more fullyset forth. Hingedly connected to the supporting member.9, .whichsu ports the front seat 3, is :an auxiliary mem er 10 which s adapted to' be arrangedinQah ri-i zontal position and the outer'e'nd thereof rests upon the extended-endtof .the stop-cfi to support the same in position- I From the above it will be readily apparent thatthe rearor tonneau portion of the motor vehicle may be quickly converted into a sleeping compartment, while the front seat is used for touring purposes and should it be desired to convert the entire body' into a sleeping compartment, the front piece 11 which is hingedly connected to the front shown at 15, is dropped down to a horizontal position and the outer edge thereof is adapted to rest upon the outwardly extending end of the stop 8. Thus it will be apparent that when the device is converted into a full sleeping compartment, the auxiliary piece 10 is eliminated and is only used when it 1s desired to use the tonneau as a part sleeping compartment. 'It will be understood that when only the tonneau of the vehicle is converted into a sleeping compartment, it is preferably used for children, but in touring about the country, the tourist could readily stop between towns and arrange the vehicle into a sleeping compartment by using both the back and rear seats.

It will be apparent from the above description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, that I have provided a simple and durable vehicle which can be readily applied to any form of motor vehicle and used to a great advantage without changing the general appearance of the body of the vehicle.

It will be noted that when the members 4 and 11 are in their inoperative position, as illustrated in Fig. 1, there is considerable space left between the upholstering of these members and the edge of the bottom of the seats 2 and 3. This space is filled by means of the removable upholstering portions 16 which are securely held in position by means I of the straps 17.

It will also be apparent from the above that these portions of upholstering may be quickly and readily removed when. it is desired to convert the body into a sleeping compartment, as illustrated in Fig. 2.

It will also be apparent that I have provided a simple and durable device which can be manufactured and placed upon the market at a comparatively low cost.

lVhile I have shown and described the preferred form of my invention, it will be obvious that various changes in the details of construction and in the proportions may be resorted to for successfully carrying my invention into practice, without sacrificing any of the novel features or departing from the scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described this invention, what I claim is 1. A vehicle body including front and rear seat members, movable members hingedly connected to the front edges of said seat members, supports for retaining said members in a horizontal position, one of said supports being provided with an outwardly projecting portion, and a third movable member hingedly connected to the front seat member and adapted to besupported by the outwardly projecting portion, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A vehicle body including front and rear seat members, a plate member hingedly connected to the front edges of each of said seat members, a third plate inember hingedly connected to the rear of the front seat member, said platemembers being adapted to be disposed in a horizontal position, and pivoted bars carried by the first plate members for supporting all of said plate members in a horizontal position.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD L. THOMPSON. lVitnesses:

Mrs. E. L. THoMrsoN, B. F. MARTZ.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C. 

